Monthly Archives: April 2014

Martha, in the Gospel read this morning, displayed a familiar feeling we and the world feel when we lost someone we love. She grieved over the loss of her brother Lazarus. She said to Jesus, “Lord had you been here earlier, my brother would not have died.” She had been praying that Jesus would be there when her brother was yet sick. There is no question that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. But when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Two miles away from Bethany! This is hard for us to understand and hard to handle. Here’s Jesus who is known to have loved this family but when he heard his friend was sick, what does he do? It is difficult to understand that Jesus deliberately waited. We are so used to critical illness being a signal for immediate action. And the first thing that comes to mind is God. We pray, “Please Lord spare my brother from death” Or “please Lord save my child from the doom of cancer” God’s presence is very much needed in that very moment. We needed comfort. We needed answer, but there was none.

My little girl Hailey, when she was 5, came to me one time showing me her hurt finger saying, ”Daddy, I have a boboo” I just looked at the finger and said, “Ah, that’s ok, mommy will take care of it.” and sent her to her mom. She ran to her mother, weeping and crying, and her mother said, “Oh, dear, does it hurt so much?” My little girl said, “No, mommy, it’s just that daddy didn’t even say, “Oh.” That is what she wanted, somebody to say “Oh” with her.

When we don’t get that “Oh” we say, “Why?” That is the question we all ask, “Why Lord, Why would innocent children and people suffer from destructions? Why my sister, she didn’t deserve to suffer and die? She is so young. Why don’t you answer my petitions?

When you have gone to God for help which you feel so desperately need and nothing happens, when your heart is breaking over something and you need God to say “Oh”, but the heavens are silent, it is tough to understand, tough to accept, tough to get any kind of grip on.

But what the gospel is telling us is that a delay in answer like that is not a sign of God’s indifference or his failure to hear. It is a sign of his love. The delay will help us so that Christ may be glorified through it.

Jesus deliberately delayed going to Mary and Martha because he loved them and knew this would strengthen their faith as they learned the ultimate outcome which God would work through Him.

That is hard lesson to accept. I have struggled over this many times myself. But it works. Something we expect and long for does not occur and then, suddenly, sometime after we think that everything is lost and that there is no hope, God does something remarkable that totally reverses our view.

We may never understand the side of heaven when our prayers are not answered. If you are always trying to figure them out, they will only bring frustration and confusion. We only have to learn to trust God and learn how to keep our heart pure before Him and we will find ourselves exactly where we are supposed to be. It may not be easy, but in the end, God is going to use it to our advantage.

One of the most important aspects of faith is trusting God even when we don’t understand. Martha displayed that faith when she said, “Lord I believe in the resurrection in the last day.”

There may be some of you today who is suffering from illness or a member of your family or friend is suffering from pain and cancer and you are so depressed. There are those of you who are already at the end of your rope in the hope of finding job security and almost losing your grip. Know that we are here and we love you. Even in your times of greatest difficulty, even if the bottom falls out, even when it took you months searching for jobs and you haven’t found an answer, even when everything around you seems to dry bones, you don’t have to be distraught and let yourself get all worked up. When you are in times of loneliness because old age or physical incapacity has taken you and you can’t do the things you used to independently do and you are just waiting for your hours to come and be gathered away. Remain at peace, be with joy, and keep a smile on your face because that is all part of fighting the good fight of faith. Be encouraged in knowing that God is still in control of your life. He created you and me and He knows our circumstance. Don’t sit down around depressed and discouraged. God has His ways. “My thoughts are not your thoughts; my ways are not your ways” says the Lord. We must wait and quietly trust, knowing that God is working out something for us.

Our attitude should be, “God, I trust you. I know you can do what I can’t do, and I’m committing my life into your hands.” That attitude of faith pleases God. People, who have made-up minds, people who say, “God, I’m going to trust you whatever happens. I trust you in good times and in bad times are people of good faith.

Let us therefore quit living frustrated because our prayers weren’t answered the way we wanted it. Quit being depressed because you haven’t found a job a place to stay. Keep pressing forward, there will always be resurrection and Jesus will lift you up. Keep your joy and enthusiasm for God is in control of your life. He is guiding and directing you.

If you are currently in a tsunami of life or facing severe difficulties, hear God speaking to your heart and rise above it. Believe that God has a plan for your life.

My friends, if you will learn to embrace the love of God, you can rise above where you are now. You will overcome every obstacle and you can live that life of victory that God has in store for you.

Shelter and Homeless feeding

EVERY 3RD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
We need volunteer cooks and servers for Safe Harbor Shelter. Make it your thanksgiving offering for all the blessing received; For it is also in giving that we receive.
We welcome donations for food purchases.
Call Rev. Rebecca Goldberg at 650-291-5289. Or call the Church phone at 650-991-1560, or simpy click the donation link.
EVERY FRIDAY AT 6 PM, Peninsula Food Runners pick up at Genentech and drop off at Safe Harbor Shelter in North Access Road SSF. (Need volunteers. Please see Fr. Leonard)

Health and Wellness Center

Our Health and Wellness Clinic opens on Sundays at 1 PM to 3 PM, and Mondays at 7:30 am to 10 AM.
We provide the following:
1. Free Blood Pressure, Heart rate, Lung and Weight assessments and monitoring.
2. We refer those with no insurance , unemployed and low income individuals to health professionals and health partners for follow up and assistance.
3. We provide Free health education, nutrition and physical exercises. Every Last Sunday of the month from 1 PM to 2 PM, Medical Doctors and other health educators are invited for a forum on specific issues.
4. Arthritis exercises are offered every Monday at 8:30 AM to 9 AM with Dr. Ronald Mitchell, Chiropractor.
5. We are partners with ALLICE Alliance against Domestic Violence.
6. We provide spiritual assistance to complete our goal for Body, Mind and Spirit.
Contact us at 650-991-1560